STAMFORD -- Democratic mayoral candidate and Board of Finance member David Martin vowed Thursday to put more police officers on Stamford streets -- without increasing the department's payroll.

If accomplished, Martin's pledge would address a request often voiced by voters: bolstering community police presence without adding to the financial burden imposed by salary and benefit costs.

But Martin also cited a controversial efficiency audit -- which is extremely unpopular with the city's powerful police union -- in explaining how he would fulfill his campaign promise.

"The recent study identified where we could move 12 officers from administration out into the field and replace them with civilians," Martin said.

The police overtime and efficiency report, prepared last year by Matrix Consulting Group, came under fire from public safety and city officials for its recommendation that the Police Department lower the minimum number of officers required to be on duty at any given time.

Martin has not proposed altering the department's minimum manpower requirements. However, Martin said he believes the city should move uniformed officers working desk jobs out onto the streets and fill those administrative positions with less-expensive civilian employees.

Sgt. Joseph Kennedy, president of the police union, said that type of staffing change would be subject to negotiation with the department's bargaining unit; Stamford's police union is negotiating a new contract with the city.

"There's definitely reasons why there are police officers in certain spots and not civilians," Kennedy said.

"You have a sergeant who runs the police garage -- I think the chief would agree with me that we don't want to relinquish oversight of our police vehicles. You'd have to look at every issue on a case-by-case basis."

Martin's opponent in the Sept. 10 Democratic primary, District 147 state Rep. William Tong, earlier this month called for the hiring of 25 new police officers; Tong did not say how he would pay for the additional employees, if elected.

The police union will wait until after the Democratic primary and then invite the remaining mayoral candidates in for a question-and-answer session with its membership before making its endorsement, Kennedy said.

The union endorsed Republican Mayor Michael Pavia, who is not seeking re-election, over Martin in the last election.

In addition to increasing the number of police officers on Stamford streets, Martin said he would seek better policing in city parks and the installation of cameras in police cars.

"We need to put dashboard video in our cars," he said. "I think that's for the safety of the public as well as the officers."

On Thursday morning, Martin visited the Stamford Emergency Medical Services headquarters on Long Ridge Road to meet with workers and hear their concerns. SEMS Executive Director Patricia Squires said she has worked closely for many years with Martin, who has served on the nonprofit's board of directors on and off for the past two decades.

"I think the facilities are an issue at the moment," Squires said. "They're aging rapidly and are going to need upgrading at some point. We're still on a trailer on Vine Road."

Stamford's EMS program, which receives about 18 percent of its annual funding from the city and operates from five different locations across the city, has covered the Turn of River neighborhood from its Vine Road location for more than a decade.

Martin said he would like to see EMS workers and all city firefighters operate out of one centralized location: the Turn of River fire station.

The Turn of River department, however, is suing the city to prevent consolidation with Stamford's career firefighters. Martin vowed to resolve the longstanding and litigious issues between the city's career and volunteer firefighters if elected.

Martin did not explain how he would accomplish this goal that has thus far eluded Stamford's past mayors. "I'm going to resolve their differences," Martin said. "It's time to put this to bed."